By David SharpThe Knox County R-I school district has hired 15 year veteran basketball coach Ron Lebel as head girl’s basketball coach for the upcoming school year. Rick Johnson told the Edina Sentinel that high school assistant coach Roger Parton will return as the Lady Eagle high school assistant and JV girl’s basketball coach.Ron Lebel had nine years winning 16 or more basketball games for Smithton HS near Sedalia, Missouri. The Tigers won three boy’s district championships with Ron Lebel at the helm. Coach Lebel spent the past year working with Athletic Quest, a company specializing in helping standout high school athletes prepare for college sports“I am excited to get back into coaching. I am bringing the girls in Friday,” Ron Lebel told the Edina Sentinel. “We are going to play in the (Paris HS) league Tuesday and Thursday next week.”Coach Lebel and varsity assistant Roger Parton led 12 Lady Eagle players through an open facilities workout on June 3.Ron Lebel played baseball and basketball for highly successful Licking, Mo. High School in South Central Missouri.“We will see where we are at and find out a little about the local program and see what our competition looks like,” Ron Lebel said.Ron Lebel talked about his experiences with Athletic Quest. “Being a basketball coach, I could help kids get stronger and get ready to play hard four years.”“We want to build on what Coach (John Weaver) has done the last four years. We want to continue that tradition.”“We are going to be a hard working team that shows up to play four quarters every night,” Ron Lebel said. “There’s talent in every gym. We want to go in, execute our game plan and work our tails off trying to win a basketball game.” Andy Turgeon talked about former Lady Eagle coach John Weaver who earlier announced he was leaving Knox County to join the LaPlata R-II school district.“I came in here the same year John (Weaver) did,” Mr. Turgeon said. “John Weaver is at the top of his class when it comes to teaching and coaching. He is a great guy. We are going to miss him. He is the full package. He is great with the kids, he knows the game.”“He is an excellent teacher. We have been lucky at Knox County to have great PE teachers,” Andy Turgeon said. “We hate to lose him. You don’t run across guys like John Weaver all the time.”John Weaver told the Edina Sentinel that he would become the head girls’ basketball coach and head girl’s track coach at LaPlata. John Weaver takes over from Rick Baker who has reportedly resigned at LaPlata.“I was impressed with John Weaver’s demeanor,” Knox County High School Principal Mr. Rick Johnson told the Edina Sentinel.“John is one of those guys who can get what he needs out of his girls without hounding and belittling them,” Rick Johnson said. “I couldn’t say enough good things about John Weaver. I hated to see him go. I hope we have hired someone who will be adequate in that position.”“Ron Lebel brings some experience to the table,” Rick Johnson said of the new Lady Eagle basketball coach.“Most of his experience is coaching varsity boys. He has coached at Bunker and at Licking, which is his hometown,” Rick Johnson said. “Something that really attracted me to Coach Lebel is he spent the last year working at Athletic Quest.” “He has got some experience that can hopefully help get our kids to the next level.”